"Just Check and Add, Never Change the Mower Oil" - Briggs

I've got a TSC Huskee 22" self propelled FWD, big back wheels hand me down that's ~17 years old now. It's been used a lot, I finally wore the original Briggs out about 2 years ago. It go to the point that the slightest clump of grass would bog it down and kill it. I thought new rings would solve its issues, but it was a homeowner series engine, just an aluminum bore with no sleeve, and it was worn well beyond spec.

In shopping for a replacement mower, we kind of decided we wanted electric start, but even used electric start mowers were pricey. Instead I bought a new 190cc electric start Briggs & Stratton from Surplus Center. Took some minor tinkering to adapt the FWD pulley and blade holder, added a cheap motorcycle battery, start solenoid, and start switch from Amazon, and wound up with a pretty stout mower.

I use Rotella T6, full synthetic in pretty much everything, Jeeps, mowers, pressure washer, etc. All my yard equipment gets non ethanol gas with Sta-Bil. Change the oil once a season. I rarely have issues.

glueguy wrote:

stroker wrote: The Ag Engineering school at Mizzou has a club that does an annual Mower Clinic to raise funds. The change the plug and oil, check the air filter and pressure wash your mower for $35. I've done that the last four or five years.

That's a pretty genius fundraiser for a hands-on group.

They do it over two weekends in March and April. Last time I was there they must have had about 200 mowers for just the first weekend. That's some serious coin for a club.

Change oil every fall in all the power equipment. I use what ever is left over from oil changes from the fleet. I keep a couple 5 quart jugs that I put the odd ball partial quart if oil in to. It is all synthetic mobile one of various grades mixed together. I still have the sears 3.5hp mower I gave my dad 30 years ago that I got back from him when he moved to a condo ten years ago.